The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-09
The Temperance Field.


From all present indications it 6pCear8
certain that the movement for s1gislaSaon
against the saloon will be pressed more
vigorously and determinedly in the different
State Legislatures during the comm. winter
sessions than ever before. The friends and
advocates Of high license, local option and
prohibition, have been unusually active dur
ing the past summer and have greatly In
creased in numbers and influence. The par
tial and temporary defeats the prohibitions
lists have sustained in Michigan, Texas and
Tennessee have only served to stimulate them
to new and renewed endeavors, to more
earnest, active efforts for the overthrow or
the saloon. The result of the summers work,
on the whole, has been of the most encourage
ing character; prohibition has been proved
by undeniable testimony to be a practical
success in Kansas, Iowa, and other parts OF
the Union, and it will carry with it into the
legislative halls this winter greater weight
of evicence in support of its claims than 1t
has ever had before. The liquor men realize
their danger and are organizing everywhere
to resist the enactment of laws against their
traffic
A Western correspondent of the New YorE.
Times writes long letter to that journal con-
corning the Prohibition movement in the
Northwest He expresses himself as being
greatly impressed with the strong and rapid
growth Of temperance sentiment in the agr1-
cultural States and Territories. Where fifteen
and twenty years ago liquor flowed as freely
as water, where it was the ruling and popu-
lar custom to drink at all times and all occa-
sions; where saloons were far more numerous
and better patronized than oil other branches
of business together, there is now feeling OF
bitter and determined hostility to the exist
ence of the liquor traffic in any form. IL Is
only the foreign vote, it is said, in Michigan,
Wisconsin, Missouri, and Minnesota, that
keeps these States from adopting constltu.
tional prohibition at once. Some classes Of
foreign-bo born residents unite in the opposition
to the saloon. Especially is this true Of the
Scandnavians. The correspondent takes
pains to assert, however, that this wonder
full upgrowth of temperance sentiment Is
not attributable in any marked degree to
moral or religious considerations. Poverty,
envy, selishness, in his view, are at the bot
tom of the whole prohibition movement in
the Northwest. Such a statement as this is
a libel on the tens Of thousands OF noble
Christian men and women who have every
where led in the struggle against the. saloon,
their time, their money and their prayers,
and whose, patient and unwearying labors
have been the hope, the inspiration, and the
impelling cause Of the whole movement
Encouraging notes come from every
quarter Of the field. The State Temperance
Alliance OF tennessee mas calleQ conVeu~
ton Of the temperance organizations in the
State, to take action with reference to temper
ance legislation. The call has much signif-
canoe. The very large vote polled in the
recent election has shown the great strength
of the Prohibitionists, and they are con-
vinced that they can secure such legislation
as they may desire. The canvas for
the constitutional amendment is
well under way in Oregon, where an election
will be held next month. Every county IN
Florida which has voted on local option has
adopted it. The Iowa Supreme Court has de-
cided that the prohibitory law authorizes the
State authorities to prevent the expectation
Of spirits, as well as their use in the State.
Prohibition sentiment is strong in Colorado.
Pueblo, the second city in the State, has an
anti-saloon government, and many Of the
smaller towns have local option in full
force.
1t is reported that the Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue is about to conduct an inves-
tigaton into the manufacture Of beer in this
country. 1t is not understood that the lnves-
tigation will be made in the Interests Of tenn
perance, yet it can hardly result in anything
but good to that cause if the work is honestly
and thoroughly performed. 1t Is we'll
known fact that beer is adulterated with
many kinds Of harmful and poisonous drugs,
and rendered unfit in every way for con-
sumption by man or beast. In its purest
state it is an intoxicant and productive OF
disease and death.-NeU York Observer.